Russia is laying groundwork for civil war in Ukraine after active phase of fighting ends – Portnikov

Journalist Vitaly Portnikov shared this opinion on Espreso TV.

"The Russians are trying to destabilize Ukraine through their agents, bots, and shifts in public opinion. Sure, there are valid criticisms of the mobilization process [in Ukraine], and we've talked about them a lot. There are issues of fairness in how it’s carried out. Clearly, no one should be 'above' anyone else when it comes to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. But the injustice is manifested in the attitude to those who serve and aren’t being demobilized, even when injured, while others act like these soldiers should just keep fighting indefinitely, no matter how long the war lasts. To them, the army isn’t made up of fellow citizens, it’s just a hired force. 'Let them fight; we’ll wait it out' — that’s their mindset," he said.

Portnikov argues that Russia is fueling this sense of injustice, demonizing mobilization centers, and turning soldiers against civilians, military families against non-military families.

According to him, this is how Russia hopes to lay the groundwork for a civil war in Ukraine once the active fighting stops.

"Even after the war’s most intense phase is over, Russia will keep working to destabilize and dismantle Ukraine. That’s the reality we’re in. Eventually, they’ll create an internal enemy — the military involved in mobilization. Then, they’ll push the illusion that Ukrainians can somehow 'survive' under Russian occupation. But in truth, most Ukrainians in occupied territories will be either killed or expelled — because Russia has no use for them. Or worse, they’ll be mobilized for Russia’s next wars, just like residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. They were grabbed in courtyards, on the streets, and no one protested because they knew what happened to those who did. These people were used as cannon fodder," he said.

Ukrainians living as civilians today would face the same fate if Russia wins the war, he warned. They wouldn’t just be sent to fight NATO states, Russia could use them in wars in the Middle East or elsewhere.

"This is a vast state capable of waging war in both Europe and Asia. It needs people who can be thrown into battle without disrupting social stability. Their society is indifferent to casualties. Even if Ukraine is emptied out, mainland Russia won’t bat an eye — because, to them, Ukrainians are outsiders. This has always been Russian propaganda’s message: Ukraine is just a Russian territory occupied by foreigners who need to be crushed," Portnikov concluded.